Mendip backs initiative to help residents cut their fuel bills

28 December 2018

Mendip District Council is once again backing the popular Big Community Switch which is a collective energy switching scheme which has seen some local residents save hundreds of pounds by switching their energy supplier.

Collective Energy Switching is when consumers get together to negotiate a group deal with gas and electricity suppliers, with a third party actively negotiating a better tariff on behalf of the group through an auction process.

There is a vast array of options for people looking to compare the market and switch suppliers either individually or collectively. Mendip District Council is continuing to back The Big Community Switch run by iChoosr as one way of helping Mendip's residents get a better deal on their energy bills.

The amount saved will vary, but in previous rounds of energy switching that involved Mendip residents, people who signed up to the scheme saved an average of £205.88 on their annual fuel bills.

The Big Community Switch, which is open to all Mendip residents, aims to help prevent people slipping into fuel poverty by making easier and more convenient for people to participate in energy switching.

The way the process works is:

Residents visit iChoosr's Big Community Switch website - www.bigcommunityswitch.com - where they can follow a simple online process to register their interest.

Up to five households can be registered on one email address and residents without internet access will be supported through the registration process by the council.

Mendip residents are then pooled with other local authority schemes and energy companies bid against each other in a reverse auction to offer the group of customers the best deal.

A no-obligation offer is then sent to each resident who has registered in the scheme and they have a month to choose whether to accept it.

If residents choose to accept their offer they are then switched to the new supplier and supported to ensure a smooth and hassle-free transfer.

The collective energy scheme is now open until the auction on 12 February 2019.

Cllr Philip Ham, Portfolio Holder for Transformation, said: "Collective Energy Switching has already proved extremely popular, with people in Mendip saving an average of £205 on their annual fuel bills.

"This is a great opportunity for people to be in with a chance of making a very impressive saving on their energy bills, so I would encourage local people to take part - it really is a quick and straightforward process."

Mendip District Council has partnered with iChoosr, a leading expert in collective energy switching, to operate the scheme in the district.

Residents who are keen to be part of the process can register online via www.bigcommunityswitch.com contact Mendip District Council on 0300 303 8588 or visit any Council Access Point for more information.